Unusual Ibiza visitor

On 31 May 2021, the Spanish island of Ibiza was paid an unusual visit by a United States Marines Corps F-35B, BuNo 169608/CF-07 (msn BF-72) of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 211 Wake Island Avengers ('CF-xx').

The Lightning was launched from HMS Queen Elizabeth but had to conduct an emergency landing at Ibiza as a precautionary measure. The British aircraft carrier, on which the USMC squadron is temporarly deployed, and her Carrier Strike Group are currently at sea in that area.

The reason for the diversion to the party island was a puncture of the left hand tyre. Obviously, landing on a long runway on land has the preference over a short one on a carrier.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the deployed flag ship for Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG-21), a deployment that will see the ship and her escorts sail to the Asia-Pacific region and back.

CSG-21 will see the ship along with the Strike Group work with over forty countries from around the world, and will operate and exercise with other countries Navies and Air Forces during the seven month deployment.

The Strike Group includes ships from the United States Navy, Marines Corps and Dutch Navy, as well as British frigates, destroyers, two RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) supply ships and air assets from 617sq, 820 NAS, 815 NAS and 845 NAS.

Photo: makutis86 (Twitter)